Shalivahan

Shalivahan (शालिवाहन) (c. 78–102 CE) was a Jat king around second century AD, who hailed from Punjab and was an offshoot of Takshak or TakaNaga family with capital at Sialkot. James Tod has given a due consideration to it. He, very clearly, informs us- "that in early history of the Bhatti prince of Jaisalmer, when driven from Zabulistan, they dispossessed the Takas on the Indus, and established themselves in their land, the capital of which was called Salivahanpura ; and as the date of this event is given as 3008 of the Yudhishtra era, it is by no means unlikely that Salivahana or Salbhan (who was a Takshak), the conqueror of the Tuar Vikram, was of the very family dispossessed by Bhatti who compelled them to migrate to South." [1]
Shalivahana is credited with the initiation of the era known as Shalivahana Shaka to celebrate his victory against Vikramaditya of Ujjayini in the year 78 A.D.

Vajra had two sons, Naba and Khira. When the Yadus were exterminated in the conflict at Dwarica, and Hari had gone to heaven, Vajra was on his way from Mathura to see his father, but had only marched twenty coss (forty miles), when he received intelligence of that event, which had swept away his kindred. He died upon the spot, when Naba was elected king and returned to Mathura, but Khira pursued his journey to Dwarica. [6]

Prithibahu, son of Naba became prince of Marusthali. He had a son Bahubal, who espoused Kamlavati Puar, daughter of Vijaya Singh, Prince of Malwa. His son Bahu was killed by a fall from his horse ; he left one son, Subahu, who was poisoned by his wife, a daughter of Mund Raja Chohan of Ajmer : he left a son, Rijh, who reigned twelve years. He was married to Subhag Sundri, daughter of Ber Sing, prince of Malwa. His son was Raja Gaj. [8]

Raja Gaj founded Ghazni. On Sunday, the 3d of Bysāk, the spring season (Vasant), the Rohini Nikhitra, and Samvat Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) 3008 (=93 BC), Raja Gaj seated on the throne of Ghazni. Raja Gaj invaded Kashmir ; and married the daughter of its prince, by whom he had a son, called Salivahan. When this child had attained the age of twelve, tidings of another invasion came from Khorasan. Raja Gaj sent his family and kin, and on pretence of a pilgrimage to Jwalamukhi, with the prince Salivahan, to Punjab, where he fixed on a spot with abundance of water, and having collected his clansmen around him, he laid the foundation of a city which he named after himself, Salivahanpura (Salpura), on Sunday, the 8th of the month of Bhadoon of S. 72 (=16 AD). The surrounding Bhomias attended, and acknowledged his supremacy. Salivahan conquered the whole region of the Punjab.[9]

Raja Bhatti succeeded his father Raja Baland. He conquered fourteen princes, and added their fortunes to his own. Among his effects, he reckoned twenty-four thousand mules laden with treasure ; sixty-thousand horse, and innumerable foot. As soon as he mounted the
gadi, he assembled all his forces at Lahore preparatory to the teeka-dour destined against Beerbhan Bhagel, lord of Kanakpur. Beerbhan fell in the battle which ensued, at the head of forty thousand men. With Bhatti, the patronymic was changed, and the tribe thenceforth was distinguished by his name. [12]

Mangal Rao succeeded, but his fortune was not equal to that of
his fathers. Dhoondi, king of Ghazni, with a mighty force, invaded
Lahore; nor did Mangul Rao oppose him, but with his eldest son fled into the wilds on the hanks of the river. The foe then invested Salivahanpur, where resided the family of the Raja.[17]

Masur Rao escaped and fled to the Lakhi Jungle. There being only a cultivating peasantry in this tract, he overcame them, and became master of the country. [18]

According to Jat historian Ram Swarup Joon, "Afghanistan was called Upguanstan, Baluchijostan both of that are Sanskrit words. Both these countries were part of India till, as late as the Mogul period. King Seth of the Ardas branch of Yayati dynasty had a son called Arh, whose son Gandhara founded the town of Gandhar, now known as Kandhar. Gandhari, mother of Duryodhana was from this town. Jats have gotras of this dynasty named Gaina, Gaindhar, Gaindhala and Gaindhu.

Maharaja Gaj founded the Ghazni city of Afghanistan. Maharaja Gaj was killed in war with Mughals. Maharaja Gaj had sent his son Shalivahan to India before war with Mughals. The present Maharawal of Jaisalmer is descecdant of Maharaja Gaj. Mahraja Jaisalmer later on got converted to Rajput. The Gajrania gotra in jats is after Maharaja Gaj.

According to the Bards of the Hala gotra, king Shalivahan, son of Gaj founded his capital at Sorath in Gujarat, where the descendants of king Krishna, brother of king Shalbahan ruled for several generations.[27]

In the tenth generation there was a powerful King named Hala. For 22 generations thereafter this country up to Nasik was ruled by this dynasty and was called Halar. The empire included Bengal, Karnataka, Gujrat, Sindh and Kashmir. This kingdom lasted from 187 Vikram to 227 Vikram. [28]

The Shalivahana era

The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars, the Indian national calendar, and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar. Its year zero begins near the vernal equinox of 78.

The Satavahana king Shalivahana (sometimes identified as Gautamiputra Satakarni) is credited with the initiation of the era known as Shalivahana Saka to celebrate his victory against Vikramaditya of Ujjayini in the year 78.

Alternatively, it is thought that the Saka era (sometimes abbreviated to "SE" in numismatic circles) marked the victory of the Sakas over the dynasty of king Vikramāditya in Ujjain, Malwa. After this victory, the Sakas established the Western Satraps kingdom, which was to rule the region for more than three centuries.[31]

The era was also used by Javanese courts from Old Javanese times until 1633, when it was replaced by Anno Javanico, a hybrid Javanese-Islamic system.[32]

Satavahana dynasty

Satavahana Empire

Shalivahana is credited with the initiation of the era known as Shalivahana Shaka to celebrate his victory against Vikramaditya of Ujjayini in the year 78 A.D. The Vikrama Charita, a Sanskrit classic, composed in the eleventh century supports this view. But apart from this work and some popular legends, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory. However, history does record that Gautami Putra Shatakarni, of the Shatavahana dynasty defeated the powerful Nahapana, the Satrap king. The folklore of Maharashtra identifies Gautamiputra Shatakarni of the Shatavahana dynasty with Shalivahana. It is interesting to note that etymologically Shatavahana is derived from Shatavahana which in turn is derived from Shalivahana.[33]

After becoming independent around 230 BCE, Simuka, the founder of the dynasty, conquered Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Malwa and part of Madhya Pradesh. He was succeeded by his brother Kanha (or Krishna) (r. 207-189 BCE), who further extended his kingdom to the west and the south.

His successor Sātakarnī I was the sixth ruler of the Satavahana. He is said in the Puranas to have ruled for 56 years.

By this time the dynasty was well established, with its capital at Pratishthānapura (Paithan) in Maharashtra, and its power spreading into all of South India.

According to some interpretations of the Puranas, the family belonged to the Andhra-jati and was the first Deccanese dynasty to build an empire in daksinapatha (southern region). The Satavahanas (also called Andhra and Shalivahan) rose to power in modern Maharashtra around 200 B.C. They remained in power, for about 400 years. Almost the whole of present day Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu were under Satavahana rule. Paithan in Maharashtra, formerly called Pratishthan, was the capital of the Satavahanas. The founder of the Satvahanas was Simuka. But the man who raised it to eminence was Satakarni I. Sri Yajna Satakarni was the last great king in this dynasty. After him, the empire began to decline.

Gautami-putra Satakarni was the most famous king of the Satvahana dynasty. He defeated the Sakas (Scythians), Yavanas (Greeks) and Pahlavas (Parthians). His empire extended up to Banavasi in the south, and included Maharashtra, Konkan, Saurashtra, Malwa, west Rajasthan and Vidharbha. His son, Vasishti-putra, ruled at Paithan on the banks of Godavari. Two other cities, Vaijayanti (in North Kanara) and Amravati (in the Guntur district), attained eminence during the Satvahana period. Vasishthi-putra Pulumavi, Vasishthi-putra Satakarni, Yadnya-shri Satakarni are some other Satavahana rulers who succeeded Gautami-putra Satakarni some lost many of their territories but the power of Satvahanas revived under Sri Yajna Satakarni, who was the last great king. After him, the empire began to decline.

The Satavahanas inaugurated the Shalivahana Shaka. Satavahanas were very able rulers. Their empire was divided into provinces called Aharas, each under an Amatya (minister). They had a large army. They were lovers of literature and architecture. Prakrit was the court language. Women took part in assemblies. The Karle caves in Maharashtra were built during this period. Some caves of Ajanta were also built during this period. The construction of 29 galleries of Ajantha Caves continued until 650 AD.

The Satavahanas

We know that after the great Mahabharata war, the Vedic Brahmanical culture began to decline on one band and tbe non-Aryan Naga Shraman culture began to revive on the other. The progeny of Takshakas, after a long struggle with the successors of Parikshita of Pandava tribe, recaptured Hastinapur and later Nagas subdued Kausal. Kashi and Magadha in the East. Similarly they moved towards west and South and established their rule at Tonk, Malwa (East and West), Vidisa, Eran and Padmavati, and also at Paithan. [34]

The first mention of the Satavahana is in the Aitareya Brahmana, dating back to the 8th century BCE mentioning them to be of Vishwamitra's lineage. In the Pūrānas and on their coins the dynasty is variously referred to as the Sātavāhanas, Sātakarnīs, Andhras and Andhrabhrityas. A reference to the Sātavāhanas by the Greek traveller Megasthenes indicates that they possessed 100,000 infantry, 1,000 elephants, and had more than 30 well built fortified towns:

Next come the Andarae (Andar, Andhra Jat clans), a still more powerful race, which possesses numerous villages, and thirty towns defended by walls and towers, and which supplies its king with an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and 1,000 elephants.[35][36] (See - Jat clans as described by Megasthenes)

The Sātavāhanas ruled a large and powerful empire that withstood the onslaughts from Central Asia. Aside from their military power, their commercialism and naval activity is evidenced by establishment of Indian colonies in southeast Asia for the first time in history.

The Sātavāhanas began as feudatories to the Mauryan Empire. They seem to have been under the control of Emperor Ashoka, who claims they were in his domain, and that he introduced Buddhism among them:

Here in the king's domain among the Yavanas (Greeks), the Kambojas, the Nabhakas, the Nabhapamkits, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in Dhamma.[37]

The Satavahanas declared independence sometime after the death of Ashoka (232 BCE), as the Maurya Empire began to weaken.

The Andhra or Satavahana

Andhra or Satavahana was the only ruling family of South India, which ruled not only in South but also in some parts of North for some period. They are also credited to rule for the longest tenure in Indian history. According to Matsya Purana, they ruled for 460 years and according to Dr. V.A. Smith and Dr. Gopalachari there were 30 kings in this dynasty who ruled between 235 BC and 225 A.D. [38]

Etymology of the word Sātavāhana

According to Nilkant Sastri in the first half of the first millennium B.C. the process of basic change, in the nature of Indo-Aryan languages, was at work. In this period the Aryan languages were coming nearer to Dravidian and Kol (Munda or ancient Dravidian) languages and the Indo-Aryan, Dravidian and Kol languages were intermixing. Words of similar meaning or synonymous of both the languages were coming together to form new words such as ; Kol-Sāta, Sāda, Shāli means Ghora (horse), similarly the word Ghot or Ghora (horse) was derived from an unknown non-Aryan origin word Ghutra or Hotra and from the combination of these words (Shali and Hotra), the sanskrit word Shalihiotra (Ohora or horse) has been formed. [39][40]

All the three names viz Sātavāhan, Sādavahan and Sālivahan are of the same family and the words Sāt, Sād or Shāli, the prefix of these names are of Kol origin and they meant horse. Why these words were added to their family name by the Satavahanas. Cunningham has given another story- Sāta or Sāli was the name of a Yaksha, who thus acquired the title of Sātavāhana or Sālivāhana. [41]? In doing so they certainly must have followed the cultural tradition of their fore-fathers. It means there was some close relation of Satavahanas with the horse. In fact the relation of Nagas of Megalithic culture with the horse was surprisingly very close. This truth has come to light from the excavation of sites like Mahurjhari, Junapani, khapa, and Takalghat. Dr. S.B. Deo [42]has derived very interesting conclusions in the excavation-report of Mahurjhari. He annotates as such, "The association, of horse bones and ornaments and horse riding equipments with human skeletal remains, shows that this animal played an important role in the life of Mahurjhari Megalithians. It appears that they were skillful horse riders and possibly belonged to a - warrior clan, This view is further corroborated by the mode of burial of the dead warriors in megaliths of LOC III in which a dagger with an iron blade and copper hilt was found to have been placed on the chest of the person. The material equipment implies that Megalithic folks were predominantly iron-using warrior groups. The horse kits found with the horse remains implies that these folks were raiders." Such a character of Megalithians IS not different from Satavahanas. [43]

Dr. S.B. Deo on the basis of carbon C-14 dating has fixed the period of Mahuljhari findings as first millennium B.C., when this family came into power. Hence it shows that the progenitors, of this family were efficient horse riders and a great warrior clan; that is why the aforesaid prefixes have been used to their family name. This is further confirmed by the view of Jayaswal who says that indigenous Naga people used to organize themselves into guilds or republics [44][45]whose every member was a great warrior. They were, infact, a Nation-in-Arms. The above conclusion, very clearly indicates that the people of megalithic culture and Satavahanas were of one and the same culture and they were Naga in origin. The horse not only played an important role in their lives but this was their close associate member. This importance given to this animal by the Satavahanas, was inherent; that is why they gave so much importance to this animal. It is possible that this importance may have inter-related with some historical event, lost in the long darkness of history. [46]

Chandrabhan Pandeya [47]has produced following different meanings of the word Sātavāhana [48]:

(2) The word 'Vahana' is a Sanskrit form of" Han" or "Hapan" of Munda langauge which means son. Therefore Satavahan means son of horse. [49].

(3) According to Kankasbhai the words Vahana and Karni (of Satakarni) are synonymous which means elephant. Therefore Satavahana means that one who has hundreds of elephants.

(4) According to Smith in the names of many of the Satavahana kings, the pre-fix 'Sati' is a corrupt form of 'Swati'. "Swati " means sword. Therefore Satavahana means "person who wears or holds sword."

(5) Sometimes the word 'Sat' is taken to be 'shat' which means hundred. Therefore the word Satavahana is explained as "the lord of hundreds of hills or mountains. " Since they were fords of hilly region of N.W. India, hence it seems much nearer to historical fact such as Takshila means "rocks-of Takas"

The most reasonable and acceptable viewpoint is presented by Jogalekar. [50] According to him "Sat is a corrupt fonn of 'Sapta' which means seven. 'Saptavahani' is one of the names of sun, thus Satavanana was a Suryavanshi king, seven horses are the vehilcle of sun. The coins of Satavahana have a symbol of sun or Surya, known as 'Ujjaini symbol' the'S' of Satavahana can be related to its Prakrit form 'sattavahani' (Sanskrit, Saptavahan). Skand Purana Saptavahana is the name of Surya (Sun)". But Jogalekar does not produce any evidence in support. According to inscription of Kanswa, found from a well near river Chambal sout of Kota, King Shalindra calls himself of Surya race, and of Taka vansha. Prine Saliahana the Proogenitor of the royal family, was also Taka vanshii. Salindra was king of Salpoor (409 AD). Theese people of Sarya family were famous among other tribes. [51]The view that Nagas were of Suryavansh) gets support of Oldham. [52][53]

It is obvious that these were the same Takas of Panjab who met Hieuntsang. They were lord of Malava and were also known as Surya. The land between the valleys of Satluj and Beas, in the neighborhood of Himalayas is also known as Saraj or Sewaraj. The chief deity of these people of this area is serpent or Naga and all of them worship this deity. [54][55]

It is obvious that Satavahanas were Surya or Suryavanshi in origin. It is well confirmed. [56][57]

The Legend of Birth of Salivahana

Salivahana was primogenitor of this royal family R.G. Bhandarkar [58] produces a legendary event explaining the origin of the Salivahana or Satavahana. -

"The period during which the Satavahanas or Andhrabhrityas ruled over Maharashtra must have been a prosperous one in the history of the country. Hence several traditions with regard to different kings of this dynasty have been preserved. But that Salivahana or Satavahana was a family name has been forgotten, and different princes of the dynasty have been identified. Thus Hemachandra in his Desikosha gives Salivahana, Salana, Hala, and Kuntala as the name of one individual; but we see from the list given above that the last two were born by different princes, and both of them were Salivahanas. In his grammar he gives Salivahana as a Prakrit corruption of Satavahana. In modern times

the Saka era is called the Salivahana era, an era founded by Salivahana. When it is attributed to him, it is difficult to determine it precisely. All the copper-plate grants up to the eleventh century speak of the era as Saka nripakala, i.e. the era of the Saka king, or Sakakala, i.e., the era of the Saka, and in an inscription at Badami it is stated to be the era beginning from "the coronation of the Saka king." Subsequently, the simple expression "Saka, in the year of the Saka, " was used, and thereafter Saka, or "in the Saka." The word Saka thus came to be understood as equivalent to "an era" generally, the original sense being forgotten. And since the era had to be connected with some great king it was associated with the name of Salivahana, whom tradition had represented to be such a king; and thus we now use the expression SalivahanSaka, which etymologically can have no sense and is made up of the names of two royal families. The current legend makes Salivahana the son of a Brahman girl who was a sojourner at Paithan and lived with her two brothers in the house of a potter. On the occasion she went to the Godavari to bathe, Sesha, the king of serpents, becoming enamoured of her, transformed himself into a man and embraced her. In due course she gave birth to Salivahana, who was brought up in the house of the potter. [59]After sometime king Vikramaditya of Ujjain, to whom a certain deity had revealed that he was destined to die at the hands of the son of a girl of two years, sent about his Vetala or king of Ghosts to find out if there was such a child anywhere. The Vetala saw Salivahana playing with his girlish mother and informed Vikramaditya. Thereupon he invaded Paithan with a large army, but Salivahan infused life into clay figures of horses, elephants, and men, by means of a charm communicated to him by his father, the king of serpents, encountered Vikramaditya, and defeated him. This descent of a king of Ujjain on Paithan I have already alluded to and endeavoured to explain. The Salivahana referred to in this tradition appears to be Pulumayi who, in conjunction with his father, freed the country from the Sakas and fought with Chashtana or Jayadaman and Rudradaman whose capital appears to have been Ujjain. It was in consequence of some faint reminiscence of Pulumayi Salivahana's relation with the Sakas and their Satrap kings that his name was attached to the era first used by his adversaries. There are also several literary traditions connected with the name of Satavahana or Salivahana. A work of the name of Brahatkatha written in that form of Prakrit which is called the Pishachi or the language of goblins mentioned by Dandin in his work the Kavyadarsa. (BHUT BHASAMAIPRA HURADDHA TARTHA BRAHAT-KATHAM)'"[60][61]

The Original Home of the Race of Satavahana

Who was this Salivahana and from where he came ? It is an important question, but most of the scholars have ignored it. James Tod has given a due consideration to it. He, [62]very clearly, informs us- "that in early history of the Bhatti prince of Jaisalmer, when driven from Zabulistan, they dispossessed the Takas on the Indus, and established themselves in their land, the capital of which was called Salivahanpura ; and as the date of this event is given as 3008 of the Yudhishtra era, it is by no means unlikely that Salivahana or Salbhan (who was a Takshak), the conqueror of the Tuar Vikram, was of the very family dispossessed by Bhatti who compelled them to migrate to South." [63][64]

But there is a gap of about three or four centuries in the period of the beginning of the rule of the Satavahanas and prince Salivahana and Vikramaditya of Ujjaini, hence this event does not seem to be historical. Some scholars have suggested that the opponent of Vikramaditya, would have been king Pulumayi or Hala, Satavahana or Salivahana instead of prince Salivahan, the founder of the dynasty. Whatever is the fact, it is shrouded in the long darkness of history. But there are evidences of Prakrit Pali text to show that Salivahana lived three or four centuries earlier than the above event. Gunadhya, the author of Brahatkatha of Pishachi is known as contemporary of Hala Satavahana (20-24 AD). He has mentioned in the introductory part of his work that he (Gunadhya) had used a legend (Katha) of Vararuchi (of Nanda Age 422-322 B.C.) as the basis of his composition. [68]It means the original legend or Katha of Brahatkatha was composed during the Nanda Age. From this information we can very easily conclude that Salivahana the hero of this work would have been contemporary of Vararuchi or of earlier period . [69][70][71]

This is quite in consistent with the available chronology of beginning of the reign of the Satavahana family, although Pandeya is not ready to go earlier than 235 B.C. for this date. [72][73][74]

There are some more evidences to prove that Salivahana and his family Satavanana, also known as Andhra, was the ruler of North West India, or [[Afghanistan in the early period of history. K.P. Jayaswal [75]produces Puranic evidence to prove this truth: "It seems certain that there was a community called Andhra in the Norrth. The Matsya, in the opening verse on the enumeration of the northern countries, has Pur Andhra just in the place where Aparikas are given by the Vayu VAHlKAVATADHANASCHABHlRAH KALTOYAKAH PURANDHRA SCHAIV SHUDRASCHAPAHALVA SCHATTAKHANDIKAH [76][77]

The Bhagwata (lX-20, 30) includes Andhras in a list of northern peoples :-